Apple to Replace Faulty 3TB Hard Drives in 27-inch iMacs

Good news and bad news for owners of a 27-inch iMac. The bad news: your hard drive may be defective. The good news: Apple will replace it for free.

Cupertino will replace 3TB hard drives used in 27-inch Macs sold between December 2012 and September 2013. Apple said it has determined that a "very small number" of these hard drives "may fail under certain conditions."

If you have one of these systems, don't fret. You can get a free replacement hard drive through Apple or any of the company's authorized service partners.

Apple is contacting affected iMac owners who provided their email address during the product registration process with details of the new replacement program. If you didn't receive a message but think you have a 3TB hard drive, you can head to Apple's website and enter your system's serial number to see if you qualify for a replacement.

Those with an affected iMac have until Dec. 19, or three years from its original date of sale (whichever is longer), to get a replacement. Be sure to back up all your data before installing the new hard drive. You will need to re-install your operating system, apps, and any backed up data after your hard drive is replaced.

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If your hard drive already failed and you paid for a repair or replacement, you can contact Apple for a refund.

Meanwhile, Apple also earlier this month issued a voluntary recall for the Beats Pill XL speaker after discovering it could pose a fire risk. Though the recall is voluntary, Apple urged people to stop using the Beats Pill XL speaker immediately. Owners can visit a site Apple has set up for details about how to return it and receive an Apple Store credit or refund of $325.